Subsurface fluid flow focused by buried volcanoes in sedimentary basins: Evidence from 3D seismic data, Bass Basin, offshore southeastern Australia

Holford, Simon; Schofield, Nick; Reynolds, Peter

doi:10.1190/int-2016-0205.1

Cited by 42 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 40 publications

(2 reference statements)

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“…The southern margin of Australia is also characterized by an abundance of Cenozoic igneous rocks onshore South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria; as well as offshore in the Bass, Otway, Gippsland, Sorell, and Bight Basins (Cas et al, 2016;Holford et al, 2012Holford et al, , 2017Reynolds et al, 2017a). Volcanism has been ascribed to various mechanisms including high shear rates of the asthenosphere (Conrad et al, 2011), steps in lithospheric thickness causing small-scale mantle convection (Demidjuk et al, 2007), and passage of the Cosgrove hotspot (Davies et al, 2015).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three‐Dimensional Seismic Imaging of Ancient Submarine Lava Flows: An Example From the Southern Australian Margin

Reynolds

Holford

Schofield

et al. 2017

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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Submarine lava flows are the most common surficial igneous rock on the Earth. However, they are inherently more difficult to study than their subaerial counterparts due to their inaccessibility. In this study, we use newly acquired 3‐D (three‐dimensional) seismic reflection data to document the distribution and morphology of 26 ancient, buried lava flows within the middle Eocene‐aged Bight Basin Igneous Complex, offshore southern Australia. Many of these lava flows are associated with volcanoes that vary from 60 to 625 m in height and 0.3 to 10 km in diameter. Well data and seismic‐stratigraphic relationships suggest that the lava flows and volcanoes were emplaced offshore in water depths of <300 m. The lava flows range from 0.5 to 34 km in length and 1 to 15 km in width and are typified by tabular and dendritic forms. This morphological variation may result from differing lava effusion rates and/or the volumes of lava erupted. We demonstrate that: (1) the dendritic flows contain complex lava distribution systems and kipukas, features never‐before observed from seismic data; and (2) the distribution and morphology of the lava flows was strongly controlled by the emplacement of magmatic intrusion‐induced forced folds. This suggests that magmatic intrusions may play an important role in controlling the distribution of lava flows elsewhere. Our study highlights the usefulness of seismic data in studying the manifestation of submarine volcanism, and provides quantitative data on the extent and distribution of an ancient submarine volcanic province along the southern Australian margin.

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Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three‐Dimensional Seismic Imaging of Ancient Submarine Lava Flows: An Example From the Southern Australian Margin

Reynolds

Holford

Schofield

et al. 2017

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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“…Aside from inducing formation of syn-emplacement fluid-escape structures (e.g., hydrothermal vents and volcanoes), fractured igneous intrusions can also provide fluid migration pathways long after their solidification (Rateau, Schofield, & Smith, 2013;Schofield et al, 2017). Networks of igneous intrusions may thus potentially divert fluids (e.g., hydrocarbons) into and reactivate ancient, now-buried extrusive vents and volcanoes, allowing fluids to migrate upwards and bypass significant thicknesses of strata (Holford, Schofield, & Reynolds, 2017). Several studies document how extrusive and intrusive components of igneous systems can inhibit fluid flow and create traps (e.g., Schutter, 2003;Monreal, Villar, Baudino, Delpino, & Zencich, 2009;Gudmundsson & Løtveit, 2014;Infante-Paez & Marfurt, 2017).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, differential compaction of sedimentary rocks across (nearly) incompressible igneous rocks can cause folding and faulting (e.g., Holford et al, 2017;Zhao et al, 2014), which may facilitate or inhibit, post-magmatic fluid flow . Despite its clear importance, there are very few studies describing the precise control volcanoes and related overburden deformation have on post-magmatic fluid flow (e.g., Holford et al, 2017).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies document how extrusive and intrusive components of igneous systems can inhibit fluid flow and create traps (e.g., Schutter, 2003;Monreal, Villar, Baudino, Delpino, & Zencich, 2009;Gudmundsson & Løtveit, 2014;Infante-Paez & Marfurt, 2017). Understanding how igneous systems impact later fluid flow events is critical to de-risking the exploration and production of hydrocarbon, water, and geothermal resources (e.g., Babiker & Gudmundsson, 2004;Holford et al, 2017;Schofield et al, 2017;Wohletz & Heiken, 1992).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Deciphering how igneous systems influence fluid flow events is problematic, because the physical properties (e.g., porosity and permeability) of intrusive and extrusive rocks can be highly heterogeneous over a range of scales (Millett et al, 2016), and related bodies can either act as reservoirs (e.g., Yang et al, 2016) or seals (e.g., Holford, Schofield, MacDonald, Duddy, & Green, 2012). Moreover, differential compaction of sedimentary rocks across (nearly) incompressible igneous rocks can cause folding and faulting (e.g., Holford et al, 2017;Zhao et al, 2014), which may facilitate or inhibit, post-magmatic fluid flow . Despite its clear importance, there are very few studies describing the precise control volcanoes and related overburden deformation have on post-magmatic fluid flow (e.g., Holford et al, 2017).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Deeply buried ancient volcanoes control hydrocarbon migration in the South China Sea

et al. 2019

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Seismic reflection data image now‐buried and inactive volcanoes, both onshore and along the submarine portions of continental margins. However, the impact that these volcanoes have on later, post‐eruption fluid flow events (e.g., hydrocarbon migration and accumulation) is poorly understood. Determining how buried volcanoes and their underlying plumbing systems influence subsurface fluid or gas flow, or form traps for hydrocarbon accumulations, is critical to de‐risk hydrocarbon exploration and production. Here, we focus on evaluating how buried volcanoes affect the bulk permeability of hydrocarbon seals, and channel and focus hydrocarbons. We use high‐resolution 3D seismic reflection and borehole data from the northern South China Sea to show how ca. <10 km wide, ca. <590 m high Miocene volcanoes, buried several kilometres (ca. 1.9 km) below the seabed and fed by a sub‐volcanic plumbing system that exploited rift‐related faults: (i) acted as long‐lived migration pathways, and perhaps reservoirs, for hydrocarbons generated from even more deeply buried (ca. 8–10 km) source rocks; and (ii) instigated differential compaction and doming of the overburden during subsequent burial, producing extensional faults that breached regional seal rocks. Considering that volcanism and related deformation are both common on many magma‐rich passive margins, the interplay between the magmatic products and hydrocarbon migration documented here may be more common than currently thought. Our results demonstrate that now‐buried and inactive volcanoes can locally degrade hydrocarbon reservoir seals and control the migration of hydrocarbon‐rich fluids and gas. These fluids and gases can migrate into and be stored in shallower reservoirs, where they may then represent geohazards to drilling and impact slope stability.

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Investigating Narcondam offshore using high-resolution seismic reflection data

Srivastav,

Ghosal

2023

Geo-Mar Lett

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The Andaman Sea is a back-arc basin that hosts the active Barren and the dormant Narcondam volcanoes. Despite its geological and geophysical signi cance, there are limited studies conducted over offshore Andaman. Here, a geophysical study of Narcondam offshore is presented to investigate basinal deposits and associated uids and their migration paths using a 30 km long high-resolution 2D seismic re ection. The migrated section reveals a subsurface image highlighting evidence of a bright sea oorparallel re ector with negative polarity at a two-way time (TWT) of 2.78-2.82 s (~2.2-2.3 km) with an interval velocity of 1.56 km/s. Amplitude Versus Angle (AVA) analysis using Aki Richard's two-term equation is further conducted to characterize the reserved uid. The AVA analysis yields an increase in amplitude with angle, providing compelling evidence of uid presence. Additionally, the depth converted migrated seismic section exhibits indications of columnar faults of Neogene period in uencing the migration of uids within the basin.

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Subsurface fluid flow focused by buried volcanoes in sedimentary basins: Evidence from 3D seismic data, Bass Basin, offshore southeastern Australia

Cited by 42 publications

References 40 publications

Three‐Dimensional Seismic Imaging of Ancient Submarine Lava Flows: An Example From the Southern Australian Margin

Three‐Dimensional Seismic Imaging of Ancient Submarine Lava Flows: An Example From the Southern Australian Margin

Deeply buried ancient volcanoes control hydrocarbon migration in the South China Sea

Investigating Narcondam offshore using high-resolution seismic reflection data

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